the dragon and the raven-第7部分

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of　massacre；　and　there　being　no　use　in　their　making　further
stay；　they　started　upon　their　journey。　They　travelled　by　easy
stages；　for　time　was　of　no　value　to　them。　For　the　most　part
their　way　lay　among　forests；　and　when　once　they　had　passed
south　of　Thetford　they　had　no　fear　of　meeting　with　the　Danes。
Sometimes　they　slept　at　farm…houses　or　villages；　being
everywhere　hospitably　received；　the　more　so　when　it　was　known
that　Edmund　was　the　son　of　the　brave　ealdorman　Eldred；
but　the　news　which　they　brought　of　the　disastrous　battle　of
Kesteven；　and　the　southward　march　of　the　great　Danish　army；
filled　everyone　with　consternation。

The　maids　and　matrons　wept　with　terror　at　the　thought
of　the　coming　of　these　terrible　heathen；　and　although　the
men　everywhere　spoke　of　resistance　to　the　last；　the　prospect
seemed　so　hopeless　that　even　the　bravest　were　filled　with
grief　and　despair。　Many　spoke　of　leaving　their　homes　and
retiring　with　their　wives　and　families；　their　serfs　and　herds　to
the　country　of　the　West　Saxons；　where　alone　there　appeared
any　hope　of　a　successful　resistance　being　made。　Wherever
they　went　Edmund　and　Egbert　brought　by　their　news　lamentation
and　woe　to　the　households　they　entered；　and　at　last　Edmund　said：

〃Egbert；　let　us　enter　no　more　houses　until　we　reach　the
end　of　our　journey；　wherever　we　go　we　are　messengers　of
evil；　and　turn　houses　of　feasting　into　abodes　of　grief。　Every
night　we　have　the　same　sad　story　to　tell；　and　have　to　witness
the　weeping　and　wailing　of　women。　A　thousand　times　better
were　it　to　sleep　among　the　woods；　at　any　rate　until　we　are
among　the　West　Saxons；　where　our　news　may　cause　indignation
and　rage　at　least；　but　where　it　will　arouse　a　brave　resolve
to　resist　to　the　last　instead　of　the　hopelessness　of　despair。〃

Egbert　thoroughly　agreed　with　the　lad；　and　henceforth
they　entered　no　houses　save　to　buy　bread　and　mead。　Of　meat
they　had　plenty；　for　as　they　passed　through　the　forests　Wolf
was　always　upon　the　alert；　and　several　times　found　a　wild
boar　in　his　lair；　and　kept　him　at　bay　until　Edmund　and　Egbert
ran　up　and　with　spears　and　swords　slew　him。　This　supplied
them　amply　with　meat；　and　gave　them　indeed　far　more　than
they　could　eat；　but　they　exchanged　portions　of　the　flesh　for
bread　in　the　villages。　At　last　they　came　down　upon　the
Thames　near　London；　and　crossing　the　river　journeyed　west。
They　were　now　in　the　kingdom　of　the　West　Saxons；　the　most
warlike　and　valiant　of　the　peoples　of　England；　and　who　had
gradually　extended　their　sway　over　the　whole　of　the　country。
The　union　was　indeed　but　little　more　than　nominal；　as　the
other　kings　retained　their　thrones；　paying　only　a　tribute　to
the　West　Saxon　monarchs。

As　Egbert　had　predicted；　their　tale　of　the　battle　of
Kesteven　here　aroused　no　feeling　save　that　of　wrath　and　a
desire　for　vengeance　upon　the　Danes。　Swords　were　grasped；
and　all　swore　by　the　saints　of　what　should　happen　to　the
invaders　should　they　set　foot　in　Wessex。　The　travellers　felt
their　spirits　rise　at　the　martial　and　determined　aspect
of　the　people。

〃It　is　a　sad　pity；〃　Egbert　said　to　Edmund　one　day；　〃that
these　West　Saxons　had　not　had　time　to　unite　England　firmly
together　before　the　Danes　set　foot　on　the　island。　It　is　our
divisions　which　have　rendered　their　task　so　far　easy。
Northumbria；　Mercia；　and　East　Anglia　have　one　by　one　been
invaded；　and　their　kings　have　had　to　fight　single…handed
against　them；　whereas　had　one　strong　king　reigned　over　the
whole　country；　so　that　all　our　force　could　have　been　exerted
against　the　invader　wherever　he　might　land；　the　Danes　would
never　have　won　a　foot　of　our　soil。　The　sad　day　of　Kesteven
showed　at　least　that　we　are　able　to　fight　the　Danes　man　for
man。　The　first　day　we　beat　them；　though　they　were　in
superior　numbers；　the　second　we　withstood　them　all　day；
although　they　were　ten　to　one　against　us；　and　they　would
never　have　triumphed　even　then　had　our　men　listened　to　their
leaders　and　kept　their　ranks。　I　do　not　believe　that　even
the　West　Saxons　could　have　fought　more　bravely　than　did　our
men　on　that　day；　but　they　are　better　organized；　their　king
is　energetic　and　determined；　and　when　the　Danes　invade　Wessex
they　will　find　themselves　opposed　by　the　whole　people　instead
of　merely　a　hastily　raised　assemblage　gathered　in　the
neighbourhood。〃

They　presently　approached　Reading；　where　there　was　a
royal　fortress；　in　which　King　Ethelred　and　his　brother　Alfred
were　residing。

〃It　is　truly　a　fine　city；〃　Edmund　said　as　he　approached　it；
〃its　walls　are　strong　and　high；　and　the　royal　palace；　which
rises　above　them；　is　indeed　a　stately　building。〃

They　crossed　the　river　and　entered　the　gates　of　the　town。
There　was　great　bustle　and　traffic　in　the　streets；　cynings；　or
nobles；　passed　along　accompanied　by　parties　of　thanes；　serfs
laden　with　fuel　or　provisions　made　their　way　in　from　the
surrounding　country；　while　freemen；　with　their　shields　flung
across　their　shoulders　and　their　swords　by　their　sides；　stalked
with　an　independent　air　down　the　streets。

The　travellers　approached　the　royal　residence。　The　gates
were　open；　and　none　hindered　their　entrance；　for　all　who
had　business　were　free　to　enter　the　royal　presence　and　to　lay
their　complaints　or　petitions　before　the　king。

Entering　they　found　themselves　in　a　large　hall。　The　lower
end　of　this　was　occupied　by　many　people；　who　conversed
together　in　little　groups　or　awaited　the　summons　of　the　king。
Across　the　upper　end　of　the　room　was　a　raised　dais；　and　in
the　centre　of　this　was　a　wide　chair　capable　of　holding　three
persons。　The　back　and　sides　were　high　and　richly　carved。　A
table　supported　by　four　carved　and　gilded　legs　stood　before
it。　Two　persons　were　seated　in　the　chair。

One　was　a　man　of　three　or　four　and　twenty；　the　other
was　his　junior　by　some　two　years。　Both　wore　light　crowns　of
gold　somewhat　different　in　their　fashion。　Before　the　younger
was　a　parchment；　an　inkhorn；　and　pens。　King　Ethelred　was
a　man　of　a　pleasant　face；　but　marked　by　care　and　by　long
vigils　and　rigorous　fastings。　Alfred　was　a　singularly　handsome
young　prince；　with　an　earnest　and　intellectual　face。　Both
had　their　faces　shaven　smooth。　Ethelred　wore　his　hair　parted
in　the　middle；　and　falling　low　on　each　side　of　the　face；　but
Alfred's　was　closely　cut。　On　the　table　near　the　younger
brother　stood　a　silver　harp。

Edmund　looked　with　great　curiosity　and　interest　on　the
young　prince；　who　was　famous　throughout　England　for　his
great　learning；　his　wisdom；　and　sweetness　of　temper。　Although
the　youngest　of　the　king's　brothers；　he　had　always
been　regarded　as　the　future　King　of　England；　and　had　his
father　survived　until　he　reached　the　age　of　manhood；　he
would　probably　have　succeeded　directly　to　the　throne。　The
law　of　primogeniture　was　by　no　means　strictly　observed
among　the　Saxons；　a　younger　brother　of　marked　ability　or　of
distinguished　prowess　in　war　being　often　chosen　by　a　father
to　succeed　him　in　place　of　his　elder　brothers。

Alfred　had　been　his　father's　favourite　son。　He　had　when
a　child　been　consecrated　by　the　pope　as　future　King　of
England；　and　his　two　journeys　to　Rome；　and　his　residence　at
the　court　of　the　Frankish　king　had；　with　his　own　great　learning
and　study；　given　him　a　high　prestige　and　reputation　among
his　people　as　one　learned　in　the　ways　of　the　world。　Although
but　a　prince；　his　authority　in　the　kingdom　nearly　equalled
that　of　his　brother；　and　it　was　he　rather　than　Ethelred　whom
men　regarded　as　the　prop　and　stay　of　the　Saxons　in　the　perils
which　were　now　threatening　them。

One　after　another；　persons　advanced　to　the　table　and
laid　their　complaints　before　the　king；　in　cases　of　dispute
both　parties　were　present　and　were　often　accompanied　by
witnesses。　Ethelred　and　Alfred　listened　attentively　to　all　that
was　said　on　both　sides；　and　then　gave　their　judgment。　An
hour　passed；　and　then　seeing　that　no　one　else　approached
the　table；　Egbert；　taking　Edmund　by　the　hand；　led　him　forward
and　knelt　before　the　royal　table。

〃Whom　have　we　here？〃　the　king　said。　〃This　youth　is　by
his　attire　one　of　noble　race；　but　I　know　not　his　face。〃

〃We　have　come；　sir　king；〃　Egbert　said；　〃as　fugitives　and
suppliants　to　you。　This　is　Edmund；　the　son　of　Ealdorman
Eldred；　a　valiant　cyning　of　East　Anglia；　who；　after　fighting
bravely　against　the　Danes　near　Thetford；　joined　Earl　Algar；
and　died　by　his　side　on　the　fatal　field　of　Kesteven。　He　had
himself　purposed　to　come　hither　to　you　and　to　ask　you　to
accept　him　as　your　thane；　and　on　the　morn　of　the　battle　he
charged　me　if　he　fell　to　bring　hither　his　son　to　you；　and　we
pray　you　to　accept；　in　token　of　our　homage　to　you；　these
vessels。〃

And　here　he　placed　two　handsome　goblets　of　silver　gilt
upon　the　table。

〃I　pray　you　rise；〃　the　king　said。　〃I　have　assuredly　heard
of　the　brave　Eldred；　and　will　gladly　receive　his　son　as　my
thane。　I　had　not　heard　of　Eldred's　death；　though　two　days
since　the　rumour　of　a　heavy　defeat　of　the　East　Angles　at
Kesteven；　and　the　sacrilegious　destruction　of　the　holy　houses
of　Bardenay；　Croyland；　and　Medeshamsted　reached　our　ears。
Were　you　present　at　the　battle？〃

〃I　was；　sir　king；〃　Egbert　said；　〃and　fought　beside　Earl
Algar　and　my　kinsman　the　Ealdorman　Eldred　until　both　were
slain　by　the　Danes；　and　I　with　difficulty　cut　my　way　through
them　and　escaped　to　carry　out　my　kinsman's　orders　regarding
his　son。〃

〃You　are　a　stout　champion　yourself；〃　the　king　said；
regarding　with　admiration　Egbert's　huge　proportions；　〃but　tell
us　the　story　of　this　battle；　of　which　at　present　but　vague
rumours　have　reached　us。〃　Egbert　related　the　incidents　of
the　battle　of　Kesteven。　〃It　was　bravely　fought；〃　the　king　said
when　he　had　concluded；　〃right　well　and　bravely；　and　better
fortune　should　have　attended　such　valour。　Truly　the　brave
Algar　has　shown　that　we　Saxons　have　not　lost　the　bravery
which　distinguished　our　ancestors；　and　that；　man　for　man；
we　are　equal　to　these　heathen　Danes。〃

〃But　methinks；〃　Prince　Alfred　said；　〃that　the　brave　Algar
and　his　valiant　companions　did　wrong　to　throwaway　their
lives　when　all　was　lost。　So　long　as　there　is　the　remotest　chance
of　victory　it　is　the　duty　of　a　leader　to　set　an　example　of　valour
to　his　followers；　but　when　all　is　lost　he　should　think　of　his